Summer start for London's Garden Bridge

Construction on the Garden Bridge is expected to begin in the summer despite heavy criticism and ongoing land negotiations on the south side of the River Thames.

The Garden Bridge Trust has signed the construction contract with joint venture partners Bouygues Travaux Publics and Cimolai SpA bringing the plans closer to reality.

Bouygues TP and Cimolai will now complete the detailed design, construction and planting of the bridge with completion expected in late 2018.

The French joint venture has been working with the Trust since April 2015 when they were appointed for preconstruction services, working on finalising the technical proposals for the delivery of the project.

Lord Mervyn Davies, chairman of the Garden Bridge Trust, said: “The Garden Bridge is a reality. We are on course with our fundraising targets, we are meeting the requirements of our planning conditions.

“We have huge public support for the project and we look forward to working with Bouygues TP and Cimolai and all our partners to make this a special place to be enjoyed by Londoners and visitors in the heart of the city for years to come.”

Bouygues TP and Cimolai are supported by Flint and Neil and Moxon Architects as designers, while Arup, Heatherwick Studio and Dan Pearson Studios will continue to provide advice to the Trust about the Bridge design and construction.